Book Show Restaurants And Spa In Advance
Leave some time for spontaneous decisions, but try and pre-book as much entertainment as you can. On larger cruiseships, entertainment and leisure activities such as evening shows or spa treatments can get booked up very quickly, and there can be long lines for those who wish them to book on board.
The good news is that these entertainment activities can be booked in advance well before sailing day either online on the cruise lines website or over the phone.
Arrive 1 Or 2 Nights In Advance
Weve already touched on this above, but it bears repeating as wed hate for your dream holiday to get off to a bad start. So, make plans to be in the port where your cruise ship is going to depart from at least one day in advance of embarkation day.
We actually recommend aiming to get there 2 nights in advance if you can, because then you have some time to rest and properly refresh yourself after your flight or car journey before you embark on your cruise.
When travelling to Europe, why not stay for a few nights in Barcelona or Venice in Italy. When heading to Florida relax a few days before or after your vacation in Miami or in one of the great beach hotels or resorts in Fort Lauderdale.
River Ship Line #: Viking River Cruises
Parent company Viking Cruises has expanded feverishly in recent years, with more than 60 river ships and six ocean vessels in its fleet. Under Viking River Cruises, the companys riverboats explore familiar waters like the Danube and Rhône in Europe, as well as faraway itineraries on the Volga in Russia, and the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar. Viking River Cruises also includes complimentary Wi-Fi and select shore excursions in its prices, and its Culture Curriculum offers experiential learning through events like regional wine tastings and menus that rotate seasonally.
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Which Is The Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship
If you are looking for the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship, you have plenty of great choices to consider.
Royal Caribbean offers cruises around the world on more than two dozen ships that will provide a great family vacation.
Narrowing down the best ship means finding the right ship for you, depending on your personal tastes, budget and who is cruising with you.
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Small Ship Line #: Australis
Some of the most dramatic landscapes in the world can be found in Patagonias Tierra del Fuego, and Australis takes its passengers right into the heart of them aboard the all-inclusive Ventus Australis or the Stella Australis. Each day, passengers disembark their ship and navigate the icy waters in zodiacs, getting up close and personal with glaciers and penguins along the way. It doesnt get more off-the-beaten-path than this.
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Best First Time Cruise Lines For Every Travel Style
Choosing the best cruise as a first-time cruiser is like trying to decide what kind of wine is best without ever having tasted wine before. The starting point of booking a cruise ship is choosing the best cruise line to suit your needs, but there are vast differences between lines and, if you choose the wrong one for you, that decision can negatively impact your trip enjoyment.
This is precisely why weve compiled a guide to the best cruises for first-time cruisers based on cruise type.
Looking for a romantic getaway? Weve got it. Wanting to treat the kids to a new style of vacation? We’ve got that too. Whether you want to sample a short three-night adventure or desire to jump straight into the deep end on an extended cruise, weve put together the important details that make the decision easier.
Below is our guide to the 11 best cruises for first time cruisers.
Large Ship Line #: Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises currently sails around the world with a fleet of 14 ships, ranging in size from its petite Xpedition-class vessels, which carry 16 to 100 passengers, to its large 2,800- to 3,100-passenger Solstice class and 2,900-passenger Edge class, which debuted in late 2018 with Celebrity Edge. This edgy ship was designed to appeal to a non-cruising clientele with innovations like Eden, a three-story hybrid experiential restaurant, craft cocktail lounge, and performance venue and Le Petit Chef at Le Grand Bistro, a dinner restaurant that features a 4D animation projected on your plate throughout your meal. Celebrity Edge was later joined by its sister ship Celebrity Apex in 2020, with Celebrity Beyond to follow in 2022 .
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Best Couples’ Cruise Line For First Timers: Celebrity Cruises
Why is Celebrity the best cruise line for couples?
Celebrity Cruises has always catered to cruising couples. The atmosphere onboard makes you feel like you escaped your everyday worries and ran off to an all-inclusive couples resort. The ships are intimate, with the largest carrying barely over 3,000 passengers. The décor is a step up in elegance from sister company, Royal Caribbean, as is the food. Celebrity also offers more cruises of eight nights and up, allowing couples to cruise a little longer if they so chose to do so.
None of that means children arent welcome, simply that they arent the lines primary market. You wont find massive water slides and zip lines on Celebrity ships, but Celebritys Camp at Sea is designed as a flexible way for children on board to have as much fun as their parents.
There’s a whole lot for the kids to enjoy aboard the Camp at Sea, from scavenger hunts and building robots to making personal pizzas and even competing in teen ping-pong tournaments.
Celebrity highlights
The staterooms come in six categories, including three with added perks like private dining rooms and spa privileges, more than 80% of which offer a stunning ocean view. Concierge Class even has a special breakfast room service menu featuring smoothies and fresh-squeezed juice at no extra charge. There are adult-only areas on all ships including deck cabanas, indoor pools and extensive spa facilities.
Where does Celebrity sail?
Switch Off Roaming On Your Phone
You may be able to use your internet data abroad with no extra charges depending on your mobile phone plan, but once you leave port, your phone will automatically connect to the Maritime network, which is really expensive no matter what.
So make sure you switch off roaming on your phone as soon as you leave port and while at sea to avoid surprises!
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Medium Ship Line #: P& O Cruises
The British line P& O Cruises is the oldest in the world, established in 1837 to ferry mail and passengers between the United Kingdom and the Iberian Peninsula, but it began to offer leisure operationsthe very first cruises as we know themas early as 1844. The ships cater to a primarily British audience, and they provide good value for a classic cruising experience. Guests enjoy traditional activities like shuffleboard, dance classes, and pub quizzes. The ships typically sail in Europe, though they do have ports of call in Asia and the Middle East.
Princess Cruises For Relaxation Lovers And Wellness Enthusiasts
Roller coasters and race tracks arent for everyone. If you want to relax and recharge on your first cruise, Princess Cruises is an excellent option. With their tag line Come Back New, Princess emphasizes onboard amenities that are designed to help you unwind from the stress of daily life. Pamper yourself with a massage as the onboard Lotus Spa® or get your zen on at a free yoga class on deck.
The Sanctuary, a spa-like retreat tucked away at the back of every Princess ship, is described as an Ocean of Calm and is exclusively for adult guests. Serenity Stewards in The Sanctuary tend to your every need providing everything from chilled towels, to noise cancelling headphones, to healthy meals. The relaxation even continues through the night on the Princess Luxury Bed, exclusively designed for the line and named the Best Bed at Sea by Cruise Critic!
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Best Amenities: Carnival Miracle
Built in 2013, the mid-sized Carnival Miracle doesnt yet have all the 2.0 features as her fellow fleet members, but delivers a fantastic cruise. One space that stands out well, two spaces are the two promenades on Miracle: an interior promenade with window-lined seating and a whimsical garden theme, and the exterior open-air promenade thats ideal for joggers. Theres also the popular SkyBox Sports Bar for catching the big game or the sophisticated Alchemy Bar for craft cocktails. Passengers can play and Interactive game of CLUE: The Murder Mystery, thats woven throughout the voyage. Miracle sails from San Diego, Los Angeles, or San Francisco to the Mexican Riviera but also has seven-night Caribbean cruises from Tampa.
When Is The Best Time To Go On Your 1st Cruise
The best time to go on a cruise really depends on your availability and the cruise port location. Alaska cruises for example only operate from May September. Obviously, that is the only time you can go so it would be the best time.
I created the Best time to go on a cruise worksheet This sheet lays out specific locations, what the weather is like, and lets you know when you can get the best price.
This is an amazing guide if you are going on a cruise for the first time or if you want to cruise to a new area. Get your free copy now
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Large Ship Line #: Disney Cruise Line
If theres one thing Disney Cruise Line does well, its hospitality. The company has taken every lesson its learned from its parks and resort operations and implemented that into its four cruise ships, the 2,400-passenger Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, and the 4,000-passenger Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. The ships are designed for families through and throughthere are numerous themed activities every day, from meet-and-greets to full-blown parties with Disney charactersbut there are plenty of adults-only areas that provide a respite from little ones. That said, the ships are not over-the-top when it comes to Disney decor. In fact, theyre quite elegant, taking design inspiration from early-20th-century ocean liners and sporting Art Deco and Art Nouveau aesthetics. The four ships currently sail the Caribbean , Alaska, Europe, the Pacific Coast, and the Panama Canal. Three more ships, including Disney Wish, are scheduled to be added to the fleet between 2022 and 2025.
Large Ship #1: Costa Cruises
Italian cruise line Costa Cruises, which operates under parent company Carnival, has quite a history: it was founded in 1854 as a cargo shipping company, transporting olive oil and textiles around the world. Transferring to the leisure cruise side of the business in 1959, Costa currently operates 11 shipsthe majority of which accommodate between 2,800 and 5,300 passengersthat sail all over the world. Its next ship, Costa Toscana, will debut in December 2021.
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Large Ship Line #: P& o Cruises
The United Kingdoms premier cruise lineand the worlds oldest, having commenced passenger operations in 1837P& O sails Europe, North America, and the Caribbean with a crowd made up primarily of British nationals. As such, prepare for the ships amenities to have a British bent . Three of the fleets six current ships fall into the large category, while its two adults-only ships, MS Aurora and MS Arcadia, are medium-sized. P& O’s newest ship, MS Iona is a mega-ship, as will be her sister, MS Arvia, due to sail in 2022.
Remember That The Itinerary Is Not Completely Set In Stone
Storms at sea, sickness warnings at one of the ports you were due to call at, or the opportunity of more enticing shore excursions at a different port, can all change your itinerary slightly when you are on a cruise.
So, it pays to be a little flexible in your thinking, and to prepare yourself for the possibility that the cruise may involve opportunities and adventures that are different to those advertised on the official schedule.
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Medium Ship Line #1: Carnival Cruise Line
The eight ships between Carnival’s Fantasy and Spirit classes each clock in around 2,100 passengersCarnival hasn’t built a ship that small since 2004 and has no plans to order any more. But these smaller ships sail itineraries all over the world, from the Panama Canal to the South Pacific, as well as shorter sailings from Florida to the Caribbean, and bring the same amount of laid-back fun to each sailing as the much larger Carnival ships.
River Ship Line #: Delfin Amazon Cruises
Sailing the Amazon River in Peru isnt quite like other river journeysits a blissful escape into the wilderness, where you might be surrounded by pink dolphins or piranhas at any given moment. Delfin, the first Relais & Chateaux cruise line, makes the journey incredibly comfortable, offering boutique hotellike accommodations aboard its three rustic-luxe ships. And, as part of the Relais & Chateaux family, the cuisine is spectacular, incorporating regional dishes made with local ingredients.
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The 8 Best Cruises For Adults In 2021
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the bestproducts youcan learn more about ourreview process here.We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
- Best Overall: P& O Cruise See RatesIdeal for cruisers who enjoy ocean cruising on a mid-sized ship, with an array of dining options and several cabin choices.
- Best Music Festival Cruise: Norwegian Pearl See Rates at ExpediaOffers music festivals at sea a great way to meet like-minded adults.
- Best for Over 50: Saga See RatesEntertainment onboard the vessel is more traditional and a hybrid between the river ship model and ocean cruises.
- Best Cruise Experience: Holland America See Rates at ExpediaOffers a musically-themed cruise voyage that appeals to an older demographic.
- Best Traditional Cruise: Tauck See Rates Taucks more traditional themed cruises have excursions that are aimed at adults.
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Get Fancy On Formal Nights
My cruise had two formal nights, when everyone gets dressed up for dinner. But if dressing up is not your thing, there are still places where you can still grab some food in a more casual environment, like the buffet or the grill.
I would, however, really recommend joining at least one formal night. With all the travelling that I do I dont get to dress up very often, so it was really nice to make the effort and feel fancy for the evening.
The formal nights dress code can include from evening gowns to cocktail dresses or stylish trouser suits for women, and from tuxedos to dark suits or dinner jackets and trousers for men. So make sure you pack some dress-to-impress outfits!
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Your Card Is Your Best Friend
When you check in, you will be given a cruise card with your name and with a few more bits of information on it such as your allocated dining room for Traditional Dining, with your table number and dinner time, depending on what dining options youve booked.
This card will also be your room key and your ID to get off and on the ship on port days. It is also your payment card, so everything gets charged to it. So make sure you keep it safe and dont lose it.
Head To The Pool Deck As You Depart
As your cruise ship departs, old timers will know to head straight for the pool.
This is so that they can partake in the unmissable and joyful tradition of the sailaway party make sure to join them as this moment really brings everyone together and fills you with excitement about the amazing adventure that you are about to share together.
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You Can Keep Track Of How Much Youre Spending
Princess Cruises have this web messaging tool called Princess Medallion Class that you can access when you connect to the ships wifi. Its free to use and in addition to having information about events and activities, you can keep track of your onboard purchases by logging into your stateroom account.
You can also check your expenditure through the TV monitor in your stateroom.
Use Hand Sanitizers And Wash Your Hands Often
One of the plagues of cruise ships is, unfortunately, the gastroenteritis causing bug known as norovirus. This is because a closed off cruise ship, with a large number of people in close proximity and sharing meals, provides a near perfect environment for norovirus to spread.
Norovirus can spread relatively quickly through cruise ships and it can knock you out for several days. Help yourself and other passengers out by using hand sanitizer before and after meals, and regularly throughout the day.
It goes without saying that you should wash your hands regularly too!
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Top 8 Essential Search Criteria When Looking For The Best Cruise For Young Adults
